Combined washing-machine and wringer structure.



1. E. CAMP. COMBINED WASHING MACHINE AND'WHINGER STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION -FILED JULY 25, I9I3.

1,205,249 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

COMBINED WASHING-MACHINE AND WRINGER STRUCTURE.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application led July 25, 1913. Serial No. 781,232.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L JOSEPH E. CAMP, citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Woodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Combined Washing- Machines and Wringer Structures; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,.

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. l

This invention relates to a combined washing machine and wringer structure.

An object of the invention is to furnish a simple form of combined washing machine and wringer that can be built at low cost.

Another object is to construct a washing machine and wringer structure to include a stationary wringer reversible in its direction of rotation and a swinging support for a series of tubs adapted to be swung beneath the wringer, the operating parts for the washing mechanism maintaining their driving relation in any position of the tub-support whereby the washing operation need not be interrupted during the wringing operation and vice-versa.

Another object is to furnish a combined wringeriand washing machine structure the wringer and washing mechanism being operated by the same power at the s ame time,

the structure including a series of tubs cer-- tain of which are adapted to be positioned beneath the Vwringer without disturbing the relation of the washing machine gearing and mechanism with reference to the power driving the same.

Other objects and advantages will appear herein aided by the accompanyingv drawing forming a part of this application, and in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my combined washing machine and wringer. Fig.

2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of parts of the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of part of a swinging support showing a locking member. Fig. 5 is an elevation of part of the framing as viewed in the direction of the arrow a, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a detail of -a clutch mechanism and a divided wringer shaft. Fig. 7 is an elevation, in part section, of a tub tipping mechanism.

A-represents a suitable base from which uprises a supporting stem or standard B having fixed relation therewith. Extending preferably rests upon a shoulder E of the I said standard `B the latter forming the part about which it4 swings. The arms include parts F constituting supports for the several tubs indicated by G, H, J. The arms may include supporting parts F the arm carrying the wash tub being so provided for the purpose to be explained presently. The other tubs may be directly secured to or merely rest upon the parts F or they may be attached to their respective arms.

The tub G indicates the wash tub, there being secured upon its lid G suitable bearings' G2 receiving a horizontally disposed shaft K having a beveled gear K at one end and a beveled gear L at the other end in mesh with a gear M which operates suitable washing mechanism yindicated by M, and which provides for an oscillating action of the agitator indicated at M2. The lid G is hinged to the tub at N in such a manner thatthe axis of its hinges are parallel to the axis of rotation of the said shaft K.

O is a gear secured upon a vertical shaft P, Fig. 3, the latter having a bearing'at its lower end in a socket Q, for example, in the said stem or standard B, the upper portion o f said shaft extending through an extension C of the arm C. Its upper end carries an intermediate beveled gear R in mesh with two gears S T. The latter is rotatably i mounted upon a orizontally disposed shaft U which is one of the spindles of the lowermost wringer-roll V, said shaft having'bearings in upwardly extending arms D of the wringer-frame D previously mentioned.

W indicates the companion roll of the wringer. The gear S is fixed upon an independently mounted power shaft S journaled in an upward extension C2 of the described arm C and which is axially coincident with the axis of the shaft U. The hubs of the gears S T are each provided with a notch 2 to receive the lugs 3 of a clutch-sleeve 4 aiiixed to the shaft U and shiftable along the same, there being a hand lever 5 in control of the sleeve and pivoted upon an extension lll . ation the t'ub G may lshown in Fig. 2 its edge adjacent the tub merly gears R and O 'the lid G lswing well hubs. The manner of aiiixing the clutchsleeve 4 to the shaft U is immaterial as long as it is shiftable longitudinally thereon. For example, in Fig. 6, which shows the sleefe and shaft in section, a slot U in the shaft receives a pin 4 which extends through the sleeve, the slot permitting the sleeve to shift. But any equivalent structure may be employed.

A pulley 6 serves to impart rotation to the -shaft S from any suitable -source of power. In the rotation of the gear S the are in constant rotation so that the washing mechanism is in continuous action in a single direction while the Wringer may be driven in either direction. That is toI say, since the clutch-sleeve 4 is rotatable the shaft U by being fixed to it, as already explained, when in engagement with the gear S the roll V will rotate in the same direction as the pulley 6. However, when said sleeve is shifted to engage the gear T opposite rotation will be imparted to the shaft and its roll through the engagement of the gears T and' R. A position of the clutch Where it is not in engagement ywith either gear results in the wringer remainingidle. The gear K previously referred to, and 'adapted to mesh with the gear O, receives rotation which is imparted to the shaft K and the washing mechanism in the tub G. During the washing operoccupy the position H lying near the wringer so that the articles cleansed in the said tub may be Wrung through said wringer by proper rotation thereof into'the tub H which may be' the rinsing tub or which maybe the bluing tub as desired. Since the axes of the hinges of are parallel to the shaft K said lid may be raised (see broken lines in Fig. 2) to reach the interior of the tub the gears O and K being thereby disengaged.

After the clothes have been wrang into the tub H other clothes to be washed may be placed in the wash-tub G, the lid being then Closed to restore the two gears to their engaging position, the washing operation continuing. During the washing operation supportconsisting of the arms may be swung clockwise as' viewed in Fig. 2, so as to bring the tub H to position occupied by the tub .G in .said Fig. 2, or as indicated in broken lines' bringing -the tub :J into position to receive the clothes from the tub H in its new position. The movement. of the support in this manner necessarily brings the tub J which may be the bluing tub, or which may answer as a basket, to the position foroccupied by the tub H so that the clothes may be wrung from said tub H into it. The arm C as shown in Fig. 5 is formed with a bend Awhereby to permit the tub G to around toward the left as viewed whether the wringer 1s idle in Fig. 2 to positions of ent instance sary.

, In Fig. 4 the stem B which supports the wringer-structure is provided with a series of sockets B into any one of which may be entered a locking bolt B2 bymeans of a spring B3, if desired, so'as to secure the support E in any one of the positions just mentioned. A withdrawal of the locking bolt admits of the support being swung to any desired position. It is observed that the washing operation may be continuous even during the wringing operation since the gears K and v is to be observed, further, that the lid G of the tub G may be swung upward without interference from other parts and that the operating gearing is automatically engaged and -disengaged in the movements thereof, all these said movements' and conditions being brought about without afecting the wringer-drive in any way. It isoften desirable to reverse the direction of rotation of the wringer-rolls and this is accom lished by the clutch-sleeve 4 and the peculiar relation of theshats S and Uand the gears S, O, T In order to provide for the quick and easy discharge of the wash-water from the tub G to which a discharge spout 7 is attached the tub is hinged or pivoted at 8, Fig. 2, to the part F, and at the opposite edge of the latter is attached' a cam-lever 9, Fig. 7, which when raised. engages the bottom of thetub and lifts it resulting in tipping said tub to discharge all Aofthe water.:

are continually in mesh. It

The whole structure is convenient and simple and admits of the combined action and operation of the mechanisms simultaneously and without delaying the special operation or use of either.

An advantage in swinging the tubs beneath the wringer structure is is not required to change positions, merely swinging the support Eas required or Shifting the clutch to reverse the direction of rotation of the wringen rolls which the operator is always facing. Another advantage is that the structure is rendered more simple because rigid throughout. The intermediate gear Rserves at once to transmit motion to the wrmger in one direction, whenever the clutch-4 is in engagement with the gear T of said wringer, and to operate the washing mechanism of the tub G makingl a very novel and extremely simple arrangement the said gear R in being with the constantly ing interrupted in driven gear S never beits work regardless lof i or either direction. The tub support in swinging relatively to the wringer and standard makes also for simplicity of structure.

that the operator in constant engagement I am not aware of a machine oithe nature herein described and shown wherein the operation of washing may be practically continous while other operations such as .wringing the clothes from one tub to another or from a tub to a basket may be done at the same time. This, of course, is made possible by having the wringer stationary andthe several tubs movable beneath it, and by having the washing mechanism of the wash tub in constant engagement with a driving element. This providesa new combination that is of advantagel because in .carrying on the two operations simultaneously much time can be' gained,'this being especially truey where washing is done as a business and where time is of the greatest importance. A washing when complete may be wrung from the wash tub into the rinse tub, the wash tube being at once supplied with otherv clothes to be cleansed, while the articles wrng into the rinse water may then be wrung into a basket or into bluing Water of the next or third tub, it being observed thatif the wash tub were idle during the time ofthese after treatments valuable time would be lost in the important washing y the washing machine, the latter adapted to swing about the standard in undisturbed driving relation to the said driving mecha msm.

2. In combination, a standard having a wringer mounted thereon in ixed position thereto, a series of tubsmounted onthe standard beneath said wringer adapted to rotate about a common point to different positions with respect to said wringer,

means to lock said tubs in av desired pof sition with respect to said wringer, washing mechanism mounted on one of said. tubs, avertical drive shaft extending from said standard and mounted centrally with respect to said tubs for driving said wringer and washing mechanism. a driving gear on said vertical shaft, and a gear on said washing mechanism engaging the driving gear, the two gears having constant driving relation'irrespective of the position of the tubs.

3. Incombination, a support or standard, a wringer having al fixed position relative thereto, a series of tubs disposed around said support or standard below the wringer and adapted to rotate about said standard relatively to the wringer, washing mechanism mounted on one of the tubs, gearingincluded with the same and with the wringer, a single driving mechanism engaging and drivingthe said wringer and the washing machine, the latter adapted to swing about the standard in undisturbed nism, and means to secure the series of tubs in a fixed position relative to said wringer.

4. A gearing, comprising in combination a main support. an upright primary driving shaft, rotatively mounted on said support, a secondary support rotatively mounted on said main support with its axis of rotation coaxial with said driving shaft, an auxiliary support mounted on and movable with said two witnesses.

ture, in presence of JOSEPH CAMPf'y Witnesses:

yL. M. THURLow,

EUNIG M. BECKUM.

driving relation to thesaid drivingmecha- In'testimony whereof I aiix 4my' signa,- y 

